title: Cycling induced by electrical stimulation improves motor recovery in postacute hemiparetic patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed whether cycling induced by functional electrical stimulation (FES) was more effective than passive cycling with placebo stimulation in promoting motor recovery and walking ability in postacute hemiparetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, 35 patients were included and randomized to receive FES-induced cycling training or placebo FES cycling. The 4-week treatment consisted of 20 sessions lasting 25 minutes each. Primary outcome measures included the leg subscale of the Motricity Index and gait speed during a 50-meter walking test. Secondary outcomes were the Trunk Control Test, the Upright Motor Control Test, the mean work produced by the paretic leg, and the unbalance in mechanical work between paretic and nonparetic legs during voluntary pedaling. Participants were evaluated before training, after training, and at 3- to 5-month follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between groups at baseline. Repeated-measures ANOVA (P<0.05) revealed significant increases in Motricity Index, Trunk Control Test, Upright Motor Control Test, gait speed, and mean work of the paretic leg after training and at follow-up assessments for FES-treated patients. No outcome measures demonstrated significant improvements after training in the placebo group. Both groups showed no significant differences between assessments after training and at follow-up. A main effect favoring FES-treated patients was demonstrated by repeated-measures ANCOVA for Motricity Index (P<0.001), Trunk Control Test (P=0.001), Upright Motor Control Test (P=0.005), and pedaling unbalance (P=0.038).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated that 20 sessions of FES cycling training significantly improved lower extremity motor functions and accelerated the recovery of overground locomotion in postacute hemiparetic patients. Improvements were maintained at follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy. emilia.ambrosini@mail.polimi.it
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedrocchi
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrigno
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molteni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome